Sweet and Easy Strawberry Tart

A big wedge of tart with a scoop of frozen yoghurt

Sometimes, in the chaos of the work week, dessert becomes a necessity. Hailing from a long line of dessert fans, both my grandfathers are guilty of overusing the phrase "one of each", dessert is always welcome, mid-week or not, however I often don't have the time to make something during the week, much to the relief of my waistline. 

However I may have just created something out of control, forever wreaking havoc on both the space time continuum and my favorite skinny jeans. As though I could accomplish two things at once, dessert accompanied dinner tonight, without any juggling of my schedule, with this super easy, incredibly fast, and wonderfully fresh tasting Strawberry Tart.

And yes, I watched Fringe on FOX and now think I fully understand the field of Physics including the theories of time travel.

This tart is not only fast and simple to make, it also requires only three ingredients - puff pastry, strawberries, and sugar - and, after realizing how amazing it is, I plan to keep puff pastry in my freezer on an ongoing basis, meaning I can easily whip this tart up whenever I want, using whatever fruit I have on hand (peach raspberry first popped to mind but there are plenty of options). 

Looks tasty doesn't it?

To make your very own Strawberry Tart simply...

1. Lay one piece of the pastry out on a buttered baking tray and set your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Wash your strawberries and slice, about a cup and a half, then arrange on the pastry leaving a half inch border. Sprinkle with one teaspoon of sugar.

3. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the berries are tender and their juices begin to seep out 

4. Cool and top with whipping cream or vanilla ice cream or frozen yoghurt (our personal favorite)

The tart, fresh from the oven

Recipe Synopsis: 

Taste: Fresh and not too sweet, the berry taste comes through and works well with the whipped or ice cream.

Texture:  Juicy berries and light, fluffy pastry

Wow Factor: The prettiest dessert I've ever assembled in five minutes

Difficulty: Wonderfully easy 

Serve With: Whipped or ice cream, it's wonderfully light making it perfect for hot summer days

I actually found this recipe a year ago and somehow my plans to make it have continuously been delayed. You can find the original version at PopSugar. 

Note: my berries didn't let off as much juice as those in the original photo, so on my second attempt I let them sit with some sugar in a bowl after being sliced, then poured the juices over the arranged slices before popping it in the oven. 

Yes, I made two - when the puff pastry comes in two packs what's a girl to do?

Tutorial - DIY Aztec Print Tote Bag

It appears Aztec and Navajo prints are going to stick around for awhile - which is plenty fine by me, I love their sharp geometrical angles, especially when paired with bright punchy colours. 

As the trend continues to grow, moving from fashion to home goods, accessories, and even manicures, I decided it was time I had a little Aztec in my life. I decided to incorporate the print into a DIY project, preferring to stay away from the shops to save my pennies for travel, utilizing a stencil to keep the edges crisp and straight. 

To make one of your very own, here are the materials you'll need:

• Transparent paper (to make the stencil)
• Thin tip permanent marker
• Exacto knife
• Any pattern, print, or silhouette 
• Scotch tape
• Acrylic paint
• Sponge paint brushes
• Canvas tote bag
• Cardboard
• Plastic plate

To start, we need to make the stencil for our pattern. Although I chose to go with an Aztec print, the options really are endless and I've got a few more ideas in the works that I hope to try soon. I found a print I liked online and printed it out, scaled to fit on an 8x11 piece of paper. With some decent ruler skills you could also draw up your own pattern on some grid paper. 

Stencil materials - I used a pop flat to cut on but a cutting mat would be much better

The transparent folders I bought from Staples called Poly Project Pockets worked great

Taking the pattern, attach it to your transparent paper and trace over the pattern with your marker. I found transparent folders that had a good thickness - thin enough to cut through but thick enough to hold up - a five pack was on sale for $6, and I was able to cut them open, doubling what I have to work with (cutting my cost/stencil to 0.60 cents) . 

The transparent paper after tracing my pattern

Cutting open the folder

Once the pattern is transferred, remove the original paper copy and then, working on a piece of cardboard to protect your table, carefully cut out the pattern using your exacto knife. 

Cutting out the pattern is tedious but you want to do a good job to ensure you get a quality stencil

Now that the stencil is created, we can move onto painting - the fun part!

Slide a piece of cardboard into the tote bag to prevent any paint from bleeding through and place a small amount of paint onto the plastic plate. Layout your stencil and secure it to the canvas with the Scotch tape.

My canvas tote bag was a bit wrinkled so I ironed it first to ensure it would lay flat. 

Lay out the stencil and secure it with tape

Using one colour at a time, apply the paint with the sponge brush in a dabbing motion. To avoid bleeding, keep the brush vertical, dabbing up and down, and only apply a small amount of paint to the brush at one time.

I found it was also helpful to tape off the sections of the stencil I didn't want to paint - because my stencil was more on the intricate side with small gaps between the shapes, I didn't want to accidentally "spill" paint over the edges of the stencil.

You can see the tape covering sections of the stencil to avoid accidents

Apply the paint one colour at a time, letting it dry in between

Between colours it's a good idea to allow the paint to dry for 5-10 minutes - remove the stencil to avoid any smudging.   

Once the pattern is complete let the entire bag dry overnight before putting it to use. As far as cleanup is concerned, it was a breeze. I simply peeled the tape off the stencil and wiped it down with a damp paper towel so I can use it again and washed out my foam brushes.

Once the painting is done remove the stencil and let it dry

I tried to think ahead when applying the paint to avoid having too much of one colour in a single area

This craft smart paint is from Michaels - I used Dark Yellow, Spearmint, Turquoise, Grape Taffy, and Hot Pink

I'm extremely happy with how my tote bag turned out, the colours are perfect for summer and the lines are quite crisp with very little bleeding. The project took about 6 hours total, which depends significantly on the complexity of your stencil. Initially I thought this tote would be the perfect size to hold my knitting projects; however, now I think it's too cute to keep stored away at home. 

The finished product!

Psst! I'm sharing this project over at...
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Killer Flavour Combination - Lemon & Blackberry Part II

Warning: These pretty little cupcakes pack a major punch of bright, summery flavour. Any winterized taste buds familiar with root vegetables and bland stews may be in for a shock. 

My apologies for the delay in writing, these cupcakes were served up at my Grandmother's birthday nearly a month ago, oh how times flies. 

After promising to bring cake for the afternoon celebrations, I went back on my word and switched to cupcakes. Easier to assemble and transport than a large cake, they are also more fun to eat, less messy to serve, and conveniently packaged to send home as leftovers.

Relying on a simple lemon cake mix, I added an extra kick with a tablespoon or two of fresh lemon juice and zest in place of the same amount of water. Although I cheated this little bit, it was impossible to tell after topping the cakes with a generous portion of fresh blackberry buttercream (I used this recipe from Sugar Song Cakes which calls for thawed frozen berries).

The nod of approval, and confirmation that the cupcakes were in fact delicious, came from my grandfather. After being diagnosed with dementia a few years ago we had to move him into a care home last January. Although he doesn't recognize me or remember the relationship we once had, his face lit up after biting into the cupcake and that was all the praise I needed.



Sharing this over at: Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons, Nap Time Crafters, and Just Us Four Blog

Rich and Fudgy Chocolate Truffle Pie

Before the icing on my mom's Lemon-Strawberry layer cake had a chance to firm up, I was asked to whip up another cake, this time for my uncle's birthday at the end of January. 

As the light, lemony cake had turned out so well, I was tempted to use similar flavours, however knowing my dad's family and their love of chocolate I knew I needed something rich and fudgy to win them over. 

After scouring the internet for inspiration I found myself salivating over a beautiful French Silk Pie; it's lovely layers and mouse-like consistency the perfect departure from the traditional chocolate layer cake with Smarties I make three times a year for my dad's birthday, brother's birthday, and father's day (as well as for my Dad's wedding a couple years ago). 

My Inspiration...

Stunning French Silk Tarts (via)

Classic French Silk Pie (via)

Unfortunately, most French Silk Pie recipes contain raw egg and I wasn't overly comfortable bringing something to dinner with a warning label attached, therefore I needed another option that still offered light, chocolatey layers without the risk of salmonella. As luck would have it, I stumbled onto a delicious looking Chocolate Truffle Pie and my concerns of sick dinner guests were no more.

Recipe Synopsis: 

Taste: Rich is the best way to describe this pie, however the use of semi-sweet chocolate was good and not overly sugary like milk-chocolate can often be. The graham cracker crumb crust offered a crunchy contrast to the multiple layers of chocolate mouse.

Texture: This pie is very light, almost mouse like. I would have liked the whipped cream layer to be a bit lighter tasting (perhaps by omitting the confectioners sugar as the chocolate is already sweet). The crust offers a nice bit of crunch.

Wow Factor: My pie wasn't as tall as I would have liked, perhaps a smaller pie plate would have created a more "mounded" result. As a whole, the pie is quite simple looking, however once sliced the layers are very pretty.

Difficulty: This dessert is very easy to make, however it is also quite time consuming as each layer needs to chill before the next can be made, one layer is chilled overnight. With that being said, it's a great option to make ahead of time.

Serve With: Any chocolate fans will love this dessert and as it's a chilled pie it would be quite refreshing on a hot summer day.

Unfortunately after seeing almost a full Litre (33 ounces) of heavy cream find its way into this pie I really didn't want to eat any of it however in the end I opted for a very small piece. Luckily the guests were oblivious and had nothing but positive feedback to offer. Although I wouldn't make this pie again for myself, my tastes sway more towards light lemony chiffon cake, I am sure I'll receive requests from the chocolate lovers in my life. 


I'm sharing this recipe today, for everyone with a sweet tooth over at...
Jam Hands, Say Not Sweet Anne, and Skip to my Lou

Perfection Found - Tea Sized Storage

I go absolutely nuts for collections - especially lovely photos of collections incorporated into a home's decor - so naturally I flipped my lid over this fantastic custom shelving, perfectly sized to display a gorgeous collection of tea pots, cups, and saucers.

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The entire house tour is quite nice, if you've got the time to peruse here.

Enjoy!

Calli

Summer Retreat - Private Hideaway

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As the days shorten and the weather ultimately begins to cool, we have to accept that fall can't be put off much longer. A warm little hideaway like this suspended swing chair is the perfect place to squeeze a few more moments out of summer.

Enjoy! 

Calli

Summer Retreats - Hanging Poolside

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I would like to spend my entire summer sprawled out on one of those loungers, taking a dip in the pool every now and then to cool down. Please and thank-you. 

Enjoy!
Calli

Summer Retreat - Bohemian Picnic

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Isn't this picnic table beautiful? I love the use of a soft lace table cloth over a rustic table, small mix-and-match flower arrangements scattered along the entire length of the tabletop, and fabulous lanterns hung from the tree branches to let you enjoy the meal long after the sun has set. 

Enjoy!

Calli

A Tale of Two Cakes

Ah, the infamous bake-off, Jon's Chocolate Mouse Cake versus my Turtle Ice-Cream Cake.

Unfortunately, after the cocoa powder settled, Jon was victorious and I was sent home to drown my sorrows in leftover ice-cream. 

Honestly, I voted for the Chocolate Mouse cake too - it was heavenly.

If you still want to make second rate ice-cream cake it's really quite simple - and gets rave reviews when served solo (Chocolate Mouse Cake on the side ruins everything). 

1. Start with a spring-form pan and either press a cookie crumb crust into the base or bake a brownie crust over a lining of parchment. 

2. Add softened ice-cream over the (cooled) crust; use any flavour ice-cream your heart desires. Put in the freezer to set.

3. Layer chocolate ganache, crushed candies, caramel, or any other tasty treat next. I use this fabulous recipe from Martha Stewart - it doesn't freeze too hard and the dark chocolate is just sweet enough. Return to freezer to set.

4. Top with more softened ice-cream, again any flavour you want. Freeze until solid. 

5. Finish it all off with anything fabulous you can think of - candies, shaved chocolate, drizzled caramel...

For more detailed directions check out this post from last year.

After all of that, the only thing left to do is serve it up and enjoy. Although easy to make, ice-cream cakes are definitely time consuming, the constant freezing time really accumulates. If you don't have 5-6 hours to dedicate to cake making, try cutting out the homemade ganache, limiting the number of layers, or splitting the process up between two days. 

Perfect for a hot night when only something cold will do!

Enjoy,

Calli

Summer Retreat - Cozy Escape

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I adore this little backyard retreat - an amazing oversized lounging area nestled among tall maples and offset wooden stairs. This is my idea of the perfect outdoor space to escape with a novel or cuddle up with someone special.

Enjoy!

Calli

Summer Retreat - Girly Balcony

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The lilac touches on this lovely little balcony are incredibly feminine and soft - I can only imagine the romance it must exude at night doused in soft candlelight. 

Enjoy!

Calli

Summer Retreat - Mid Century Pool Area

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This pool may look incredibly inviting but the show stopper is the clustered mid century fixtures suspended from a sky high ceiling. I really like that everything has been kept clean and modern with white dining chairs and simple wood railings, window frames, and dining table. 

Enjoy!

Calli

Beautiful Dresser Displays

When your jewellery collection borders on excessive and storage space is at a premium little items start to collect on any available surface. To keep everything in its place take a lesson from these beautiful dresser displays and invest in some pretty trays, frames, stands or hangers to keep everything in its place.

This entire house tour is fabulous (via)

A pretty little cake stand (via)

Lovely perfume bottles (via)

Looking at these pretty displays I'm having some decorator withdrawal with ninety percent of my belongings in storage boxes. I love how feminine and girly these displays are, great inspiration for an entire bedroom!

Enjoy!

Calli

Summer Retreat - Rustic + Colourful Pergola

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I'm not normally one for rustic touches, but this weathered wooden patio kicks it up a notch with gorgeous jewel tones and overflowing potted plants to create a modern, fun, and lively outdoor space.

Enjoy,

Calli

Cake Stands Galore

Are cake stands the new owl craze? Or does that technically have to be replaced by another animal fixation? Cake stands are definitely gaining in popularity - store bought and DIY versions are popping up absolutely everywhere.

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Although I bought my first cake stand last year (second hand, it was a great find!) my love for this little display piece started years earlier. After the passing of my great-grandfather and the necessary clearing out of his house, there were a few mementos and family heirlooms for my mom and her siblings to have, among these items was a gorgeous green cake stand - It was love at first sight. It wasn't completely useful or practical, and it didn't hold any special meaning for me, but it was beautiful. 

I pointed it out to my mom, nudging her to bring it home with us, but she didn't pay it much attention and in the end chose something else; I honestly couldn't tell you what that was. We left the little cake stand behind and I later saw that my Aunt had taken it home - I was glad someone thought it was as pretty as I did but insanely jealous that one of my cousins would get it someday. Every now and then I still give my mom a hard time about that cake stand but it isn't her fault, no one expects an elementary school aged kid to have such great taste.

The little green cake stand may have slipped through my fingers years ago but my collection had only just started. I guarantee the next pretty little stand I see will be coming home with me.

Enjoy!

Calli

Summer Retreat - Big City Oasis

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Would you believe that this gorgeous rooftop escape is 1600 square feet and located in Manhattan? It's larger than my entire house! I can't imagine how spectacular the rest of the house is but you can find out for a coll 4.5 million dollars. 

Enjoy!
Calli

Summer Retreat - Backyard Dinner Party

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What a lovely little spot for a late summer dinner with some wonderful friends. I love the rustic garden setting and hanging paper lanterns and can almost hear the buzz of laughter, long into the night after a beverage or two...

Enjoy!

Calli

Keep Cool

I'm getting excited for summer. The rain won't seem to go away and the water level is rising in the local lakes and rivers, but Pinterest is full of summery ideas to keep cool once that warm sunny days finally arrive.

Adorable frozen fruit skewers, perfect to chill any cocktail on a hot summer day. 

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I absolutely adore this lace tank - especially layered over a bright colour and paired with some cutoff shorts.

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Homemade popsicles - alcoholic or not - are quick to whip up and the perfect nostalgic treat for summer afternoons. 

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Another great treat for a hot day, raspberry ice cubes look (and probably taste) amazing in a glass of lemonade.

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And after all that, if you still can't cool down go for a dip - just make sure to apply lots of suntan lotion or you may end up lobster red instead of cool and refreshed. 

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Hopefully some of these ideas can be put to use over the long weekend - Canada Day is July 1st! 

Enjoy!

Calli